Randy Newman – I Think It's Going To Rain Today

"I Think It's Going To Rain Today" as written by and Randy Newman....
Broken windows and empty hallways
A pale dead moon in the sky streaked with gray
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today

Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
With frozen smiles to chase love away
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today

Lonely, lonely
Tin can at my feet
Think I'll kick it down the street
That's the way to treat a friend

Bright before me the signs implore me
To help the needy and show them the way
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira

"I Think It's Going to Rain Today" as written by Randy Newman

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

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I Think It's Going To Rain Today song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • +6
    General CommentA literal interpretation - This song is written from the character of a homeless person, wandering the streets collecting change in a tin can (his friend), making comments on store mannequins (scarecrows) and neon Salvation Army signs (bright before me), and wanting to stay dry. "Human kindness is overflowing" is painfully sarcastic.
    fmyerson November 19, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General CommentAgree with others about sarcastic nature of song; it's wonderfully poignant, symbolic, and ironic. Masterful poetry that is so open that such a wide range of artists have put such a unique stamp on it. I mean compare my 2 favorite versions: Dusty Springfield's (that is true to the depressive, lush intent) and UB40's that obscures and finds the meditative repetitions. Both wonderful and light years apart.
    stangable1984on September 24, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Commentbeautiful.
    floydian18on July 20, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentIt's about the homeless. He writes lyrics about them often.
    velocityJEon August 08, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song is different with every voice that sings it, but Newman's original version (his voice) is the way it was meant to be heard and captured. There is genious in not only it's composition and arrangement but also the way he delivers it - A simple voice telling you the way we treat people is not good enough.

    It is most simply one of the most powerful songs ever written.
    MarkL5on December 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Commentgreat and depressing both at the same time... cant really figure what its all about though...
    yoTIMyoon July 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAs for a literal interpretation, I think only Randy can answer that. But as a personal meaning this song describes very well the feeling of being alienated, or more profoundly that the world isn't what you thought it was. If you ever saw the movie "Bruce Almighty", he says "let it rain", and the next scene he's in his living room feeling awful about the circumstances he's in. I think Randy was saying the same thing, "Screw it all! Just let it rain so everybody can be as miserable as me."
    Jred1901on December 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAs for a literal interpretation, I think only Randy can answer that. But as a personal meaning this song describes very well the feeling of being alienated, or more profoundly that the world isn't what you thought it was. If you ever saw the movie "Bruce Almighty", he says "let it rain", and the next scene he's in his living room feeling awful about the circumstances he's in. I think Randy was saying the same thing, "Screw it all! Just let it rain so everybody can be as miserable as me."
    Jred1901on December 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI believe that Mr. Newman is saying that Civilization as we know it is ending, and in his genius, he makes this horror sound beautiful.

    Instead of hearing the word "overflowing" as it is written, hear it as "over flowing" meaning "kindness is done flowing" and you then realize he is saying that "human kindness is over flowing" and the "rain" (end of the world) is coming.
    Floydcaplinon June 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthe lyric 'human kindness is overflowing' is sarcastic.
    velocityJEon August 08, 2008   Link

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